Resolution

Simply defined, "resolution" refers to the number of horizontal and vertical lines used to displayed an image. The greater the resolution, the greater the picture quality. For example, a standard TV signal displayed on a standard TV set consists of 480 lines of resolution. HDTV (high-definition) signals, on the other hand, contain more than 700 lines -- hence their superior quality.

Native Resolution - 4K, 8K and rising

Portable home-theatre LCD and DLP projectors both come in different "fixed" resolutions. That is, every projector has a set maximum resolution it can display, this is set by the internal LCD or DLP panel and is called the Native resolution. A projector's Native resolution rarely matches the exact resolution of the incoming signal. Therefore, the projector must first resize the signal's image internally, through scaling, to map it onto its own fixed-resolution LCD or DLP panel.

 

4K UHD resolution

 

There are projectors that offer flexibility between WXGA and XGA by offering a hybrid resolution of 1280 x 768 - widescreen (16:9 WXGA aspect) width of 1280 by video (4:3 XGA aspect) height of 768. this offers flexibility between these aspect ratios without scaling of the signal giving the pure image.

Pixel Count

Below we show native resolutions, grey rows and native resolutions displaying different content resolutions, white rows

Sizes compared

Even though video and data resolutions are converging. We have kept the two seperate to show the historical differences between them.

Resolutions - the differences

These are the main standards of resolution. SVGA, XGA, SXGA+, WXGA, FHD 2K and 4K (UHD and DCI) are terms that describe resolutions used by projectors.

 

SVGA

XGA

HD

Full HD

4K UHD

Note: pixel size is magnified to show relative comparison

 

Data Resolutions

Data resolutions from WXGA to WUXGA

Video Resolutions

Video resolutions from HD to 8K

Compatability

You may have noticed that our projector specifications state 1080i, 720p etc under Compatibility - HDTV but what are they? Separating the number from the letter "1080" refers to the vertical resolution 1080 pixels and the "i" refers to the signal being Interlaced ("p" is for progressive scan).

How does this apply to projectors?

There are four issues that bear upon image quality that need to be taken into account:

• Scaling
• Pixel visibility
• Colour definition

Scaling

If a projector displayed a 480-line video image in 480 lines, there would be no scaling. You would see a relatively pristine picture because you are viewing all the contents information, without alteration.

Content changes and native resolution is fixed. So the content signal has to be adjusted so it can be displayed. This process is scaling.

So to avoid scaling match the resolution of your content to that of the projector.

Problems can occure when your displaying small text. Most projectors will accept a resolution higher than their native resolution, but will compress the computer's image into fewer pixels. The result is that some of the computer's pixels are shared across the same pixel that the projector displays. This is less important with photos and video, because you don't notice it so much, but with text it's a different story ? especially small text, as illustrated by the picture below.

Scaling issues - non native res on the right

Pixelation?

When your image size increases, the dots making up the image increase in size too. At a certain point these dots become noticable. This is called pixelation.

To reduce pixelation, you can reduce the image size or increase the resolution.

Severe case of pixelation

Colour Definition

Each pixel can display up to 1 billion colours. The more pixels there are, the higher the capability to define shadings and nuances of colour. As resolution is increased, colour tends to look a bit more refined or elegant

 

Improved colour with higher resolution

 

Conclusion

As with anything the better the engin the higher the price. But if you are looking for a quality image, the resolution is integral.